Will Rogers
William Penn Adair "Will" Rogers ( * November 4, 1879 in Oologah, Oklahoma, † 15 August 1935 in Point Barrow, Alaska ) was an American comedian, entertainer and actor of Indian origin. Special fame Will Rogers for his exceptional skills in the Lasso Artistry ( roping, fancy trick roping ).
Life
Rogers was born in 1879 in Oklahoma, the son of Clement Vann Rogers and Mary America Schrimsher. Both were Cherokee. He began in 1902 as a lasso artists and riders in " Texas Jack's Wild West Circus". From this he left, however, quickly and went with the " Wirth Brothers ' Circus ' on tour in Australia, New Zealand, USA, Canada and Europe. From 1905 he worked in a New York vaudeville, 1907, he made his stage debut with the musical The Girl Rangers. He joined in 1916 in Florence Ziegfeld's Follies show and was hired in 1918 by Samuel Goldwyn as a film actor. He often played under Clarence Badger, 1920 equal in principal roles of three films of the director.
But Rogers' fame and popularity were rather his mental agility and his wit. From 1919 he worked as an author, from 1922, he wrote very popular newspaper articles. After three years of film while he turned in 1927/28 in Europe travel documentary films.
In the early sound era Rogers became one of the most appealing actors of the 20th Century Fox. He played the title role in Henry Kings Lightning (1930 ) and in the John Ford films Doctor Bull (1933 ), Judge Priest ( 1934) and Steamboat Round the Bend ( 1935).
On August 15, 1935 Will Rogers was with his friend Wiley Post on the way from Fairbanks to Point Barrow in the U.S. state of Alaska. Along the way she landed in a lagoon to ask for directions. Immediately after starting the engine fell out; was probably one of the tanks empty. Both died in the crash. According to him, the Will Rogers World Airport in Oklahoma City and the airport of Barrow, Alaska " Wiley Post - Will Rogers Memorial Airport " was named. On the basis of one of his jokes the Will Rogers phenomenon was named after him. Will Rogers made in Hollywood 's polo game popular.
On September 6, 1937 Will Rogers was inaugurated in honor of Will Rogers Shrine of the Sun west of Colorado Springs in the Cheyenne Mountains.
Michael Curtiz turned the 1950 biopic The Story of Will Rogers. The title role was played Rogers' son Will Rogers junior.